Angry protests by Sikhs and others in India over a fashion model posing bareheaded and with her back to the revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan forced the Pakistani fashion brand Mannat to apologise for posting the pictures, while Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry demanded that the model tender an apology for the disrespect.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee and spokesperson Akali Dal, in tweets said that modelling in front of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, one of the holiest shrines in Sikhism where the founder of Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh spent his last years, is an act of desecration.

Sirsa said that a Pakistan court had earlier issued arrest warrants for a film star who did a dance video at a mosque, and demanded the same must be done for the female model from Lahore, UNI news agency said.

He also wrote a letter to Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar demanding the intervention in the matter by the Indian government.

Following the upheaval on social media, Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudry said that the designer and the model must apologise to the Sikh community.

The fashion house Mannat Clothing also apologized for hurting sentiments and said it has removed all the posts and pictures from its media channels.

Sirsa said: “Modelling at Sri Kartarpur Sahib is Desecration. Pak Court issued Arrest Warrant of star who did dance video at Mosque; same must be done against this woman from Lahore as example of treating all religion at par.

“Otherwise, any talk of respect for Sikhism is hollow @GovtofPakistan”

“Such behaviour and act at pious place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is totally unacceptable!

“Can she dare to do the same at her religious place in Pakistan? @ImranKhanPTI.”

“@GovtofPakistan should take immediate action to stop this trend of treating Sri Kartarpur Sahib as picnic spot by Pakistani people.

“We demand strict action against those models and agencies of Pakistan who disrespect the sanctity of Sri Kartarpur Sahib," he posted.

“My letter to @DrSJaishankar Ji and Sh JP Singh, Jt Sec, PAI, Min of Ext Affairs to discuss this issue with @GovtofPakistan," he wrote, enclosing his letter, where he said that this is not the first time that the sanctity of the gurdwara has been desecrated. He said there have been complaints from Sikh devotees of people using the gurdwara as a picnic spot, or to shoot Tik Tok videos wearing indecent attire which hurts the sentiments of the Sikh community.

Pakistani Minister Fawad Chaudhry, tweeted: “The Designer and the model must apologise to Sikh Community #KartarPurSahib is a religious symbol and not a Film set…..”

R P Singh: National Spokesperson BJP in a tweet said:

“Gurdwara in Kartarpur is a place of religious pilgrimage not a tourist spot. It has certain codes (Rehat Maryada) to adhere to. People visiting Gurdwaras can't go bare headed, can't smoke, .....Violation hurt sentiments. Pls have the codes notified,” he said tagging the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The issue was highlighted by journalist Ravinder Singh Robin, who tweeted about the fashion ad: “Modelling bareheaded for ladies' attire, in the premises of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at #KartarpurSahib in Pakistan, by a Lahorite woman, has several hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Further the pictures were uploaded on social media.” 

(SAM)